Tree-type display rack



0% 1944. H. c. ROBINSON ETAL 1,

IBREE-TYPE DISPLAY RACK Filed Jan. 7, 1941 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3mm, 3 HARRY CZEoe/nsa/y TnoMns E CHALLIS.

Oct. 24, 1944. H. c. ROBINSON ET AL 2,351,060

TREE- TYPE DI SPLAY RACK Filed Jan. 7, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a l9 3vwe/T;v$ q; Hue/2v C. Foam-sari HG- Tnomns F. CHALLIS.

Patented Oct. 24, 1944 2,361,060 TREE-TYPE, DISPLAY RACK Harry 0. Robinson and Thomas F. Challis, Chat- I tanooga, Tenn, assignors to American Manufacturing Company, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Application January 7, 1941, Serial No. 373,500

7 Claims. (Cl.

This invention relates to a stand or rack for supporting and displaying merchandise, as for example bottled beverages and like commodities, and an object of the same is to provide a knockdown tree-type display stand or rack made up of units which in the main may be readily manufactured from wire or rod stock and which at the same time ensure a firm and stable support for the merchandise.

More specifically, the invention contemplates a tree-type display stand or rack embodying a plurality of shelves or trays assembled in knockdown relation to a central supporting column and a base member, the shelves and base member being made up principally of wire rod members bent into suitable shape and connected by welding, the entire rack being capable of manufacture at a relatively low cost and at the same time being unusually strong and rugged.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent in View of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective elevation of a rack constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of one of the shelves or trays taken substantially on the line 22, Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a View in elevation of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the base member;

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of Fig. 4; and Fig.- 6 is a sectional fragmentary detail view illustrating how the base member provides a socket for the central post or column.

One purpose for which the improved stand or rack has been devised is for .supporting and displaying bottled beverages in cartons, and it has been so illustrated in Fig. 1. The rack consists essentially of a base, a central post and a plurality of shelves or trays which may be packed and shipped in knock-down relation and easily set up at the store or other place where the rack is to be used. The base member and shelves or trays aremade up principally of wire rod stock while the central post or column consists of a length of pipe stock socketed into the base with the shelves detachably mounted in vertical spaced relation thereon.

First describing the base and which is best shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 6, this comprises legs ID, ID and H, H. The legs Ill, l0 and H, H constitute pairs with each pair made from a single length of wire or rod stock having an elongated rectangular shape in plan view with a flat or horizontal topportion [2 from which point the wires are bent at an angle or incline downwardly with the lower closed ends of the rectangles forming feet i011 and Ila and the free ends of the wires or rods brought back to the flat base I2 and overlapped and welded at i 3 forming a rectangular socket Id. of the rectangular rods or wires which go to make up the legs and feet of the base is bent downwardly to provide clamping prongs l5 and It for a purpose which will be presently described.

The pairs of legs l0, H), H, II are thus made up of two separate pieces of wire or rod stock with each piece doubled upon itself in an elongated generally rectangular pyramidal fashion and the two pieces welded to one another on the horizontal or flat top l2. r

To reinforce the base, individual lengths or pairs of wires l8 and -I9 are positioned'with their opposite free ends on the inside of and welded tothe lower closed ends of the legs ID, ID and l I, II which form the feet Illa, I la. pairs, as here shown the wires l8, has the central portion bent upwardly at a point in substantially vertical alignment with the socket 54 providing a socket boss 20; and the wire lengths I9 straddle said boss and are welded to the lengths l8 on each side thereof, as indicated at 2|. Preferably but not necessarily the reinforcing wire lengths l8 and H) are of smaller gauge than the legs lll,lllandll,ll'.

A central column 22 is provided and is made'up of a length of pipe with the lower end inserted through the socket I l and over the socket boss 20, note particularlyFigs. 1 and 6. To ensure against looseness of the pipe relative to the base, the prongslE and it are provided and arranged to be bent inwardly and frictionally engage the pipe under tension and preferably at one side of the latter. This gives in eifect a three-point contact. This feature is of advantage particularly in view of the fact that commercial pipe does not run uniform in size or wall thickness, so that if there would be no adjustment of the socket opening, the connection would be loose and rickety and,v in fact, it would be difiicult to have a uniform fit in the initial assembling op eration.

The individual trays r shelves are best shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and are indicated at 23, 23 and 24, 24. The tray or shelf 23, 23 is made up of a single piece of wire bent in substantially rectangular form and reinforced by cross rods 25,

.while the shelf 24, 24 is also' made up of a single One free end of each one One of these securing the shelves to the central post or pipe 22, angle brackets 30 and 3| are provided, each.

preferably consisting of a strip of metal of generally U-shaped form with the'brackets arranged back to back and welded to one another in the re-' gions indicated at 32. At the central portion of the substantially H-shaped member formed by the.

brackets 30 and- 3|, the strips are bent reversely We claim:

1. A rack or stand comprising, in combination, a base made up of wire or rod stock bent to form a plurality of legs projecting downwardly and outwardly at angles to one another with the wires at the central portion of the base arranged in cross-connected relation to form a resilient substantially vertical socket, a central? column or post having'its lower end inserted in said socket with the wires of the socket engaging the post under tension.

2. A rack-or stand comprising, in combination a base made up of wire or rod stock bent downwardly and outwardly from a substantially planular top portion in a series of generally rectangular shapes to-provide supporting legs and feet, the wires at the top portion being cross connected to provide a socket opening with the free to provide a socket opening 33 but leaving a-space 34 in=theregion of the opening Tosecure. the brackets-to the pipe 22, the latteris formed with a-transverse hole and a screw 351s projected through the strips at the point. where they are bent" outwardly to. form thesocket 33, the screw 35 being provided with a wingnut36.

Due to the fact-that. the'brack'etsjfi and 3| are welded:together at the point 32,.when' the nut3$= is tightened down, the metal which defines the socket 33 is caused to grip'the pipe under tension, thereby holdingthe shelf. or tray unit tightly to the central post: or pipe 22. -If these. strips were not welded together, the clamp ing pressure exerted by the nut 36 and bolt 35 alsorto: the bracketstrips at 31 and 38, note Figs.

the upright post 22 and..wire base. The trays or shelves are thenmounted onthe post 22 and the wing nuts 36 tightenedto hold the shelves rigidly tothe post-.-

. The uppervv end of the post 22' is split or formed with a notch 39 to receive a sign 40..

Toknock down or disassemble the rack, it is only necessary to unscrew the wing nuts 35 and remove the shelves. or trays and then pull upwardly on-the post 22 to removeitfrom its base.

The rack may be shipped in acompact bundle with: the shelves nested, andmay be easily and quickly set up at the point of use; it isstrong and durable and iscapab'le of supporting aheavyload without danger of sagging or becoming overbalanced.

It will be understood that no attempt has been made herein to enumerate all the advantages of the: improved rack, and further, that certain changes in construction and design may. be adopted without departing, from; the spirit or scope. of? the invention. as. defined by the. appended claims.

ends of the wires bent at angles to the opening to provide resilient prongs within the area of. the socket, and acentral column or post projected intosaid socket'with the. prongs engaging. the post under tension.

3. In a tree-typerack or. standlforsupporting,

and displaying merchandise and the like, a base made up ofwire. or rodstock bent downwardly. from a substantially planular top portionto provide legs and feet for the base, the wires. atsaid top portion beingcrossedat substantially right angles to one another and welded. to. provide a socket opening, said wires having downwardly projecting. free ends forming prongswitliin the socket area, said legs beingreinforced by. crossconnecting wires certainof which are bent. up.- wardly toprovide a boss,.and a central postor. column having a hollow lower. end projecting. through said socket into engagement with. said boss with said prongs frictionall'yv engaging said post,

4; In a tree-type rack or. stand for supporting, and displaying merchandise and thelikeawire. base made up of separate lengths of iwire or red stock shapedto provide a substantially-planular top portion and a series of downwardly and'outwardly projecting el'ongated' substantially rectangular legfand feetv portions, the free ends-0f thewire lengths beingbrought back and tenminating at the top ofthe base and'arranged'to form a socket with certain ofv saidends bent downwardly to provide resilient prongs. within the area of the-socket, reinforcing, wires. crossconnecting saidfeet with. certain of said latter wires bent upwardly at an intermediatepointi in alignment with said socket to provide a boss, and a post inthe form of a hollow pipe length er section having one end thereofprojected.through. said socket andinto engagement with. saidboss. with said? prongs resiliently engaging the side walls of the post undertension.

. 5. In 'a'tree-type rack or standfor supporting. and displaying merchandise andthelike, a base made up' ofa pair of individual lengths of. wire or rod stock, each lengthbeing. shaped in the. form of an elongated rectangle. with a substantially planular central portion. and' opposite. downwardly andoutwa'rdly projecting portions, the members thus shaped'bei'ngarrangedatsubs stantially right angles to one another withthe. wires of the. planular portion crossing. at right angles and welded toprovid'e a central substan tially vertical socket and. the. downwardly andoutwardly projecting; portionsforming legs. and feet for the base, the free endsof the. wires.be.-- ing brought back to the planular. portionwith. at least two of 'said'ends bent downwardly within the socket to provide resilient prongs, a series of substantially straight wire lengths crossed at right angles in the plane of the feet for reinforcing the legs and feet and having their 0pposite ends welded to said feet, th intermediate portion of certain of said reinforcing lengths being bent upwardly to form a boss, and a central post or column in theform of a hollow pipe section having its lower end projecting downwardly through said socket opening and onto said boss with said prongs resiliently engaging the post under tension.

6. In a display rack or stand of the class described, an upright post and a base for supporting the post, said base being made of Wire or rod stock bent in the shape of leg members with broad lower extremities, said leg members converging at a central point one leg member being disposed relative to another leg member in substantially right angular relation 'with the wire at such point shaped to provide a socket opening adapted to receive the lower end of said post, and a plurality of prongs projected from the wire around said opening, said prongs extending substantially vertically but converging slightly inwardly into the socket area a substantial distance below the socket opening to permit the post to be readily projected into the socket opening with the prongs frictionally engaging the post under tension and holding the latter stable in the socket.

7. In a display rack or stand of the class described, an upright post and a base for supporting the post, said base being made of wire or rod stock bent in the shape of leg members converging at a central point, the wires of one leg member overlying the wires of another leg member in substantially right angular relation and spaced to provide a socket opening, reinforcing members cross-connecting the lower extremities of said leg members, said reinforcing members being shaped to engage the lower end of the post or column and coact with the said socket to hold the post in stable position in the socket.

HARRY c. ROBINSON. THOMAS F. CHALLIS. 

